Home Office Team

Kathryn Anstaett
Chief Schools Officer

In her role as Chief Schools Officer for United Schools Network, Kathryn leads and coaches the school directors at the network’s four campuses. Kathryn is instrumental in connecting each school to the development and operational support provided by Home Office and in cultivating meaningful partnerships that enhance the existing programs and enrich the educational experience at each school.

As a former School Director herself, Kathryn led CCA-West (now CCA-Dana) to outstanding academic results. Under her direction, the school grew from 75 students in 2012 to 230 students in 2016. The school was recognized for exceeding expectations in student growth by the Ohio Department of Education, earning a Momentum Award in 2016. Due to the school’s excellent academic results, Columbus Collegiate Academy-West was one of only 13 charter schools in Ohio eligible to apply for the Ohio Facilities Construction Committee grant in 2016; as a result, the school was awarded $1.7 million dollars for facilities updates in 2016.

Kathryn earned a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Miami University. In 2014, Kathryn was named the “Instructional Leader of the Year” by the Excellent Schools Network, a consortium of 21 high-performing charter networks across the country.

Andrew E. Boy
Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Andrew E. Boy is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at the United Schools Network (USN).  Boy began his career as a teacher at W.E.B. DuBois Academy, an urban charter school in Cincinnati. He served as the science lab director and designed the school’s science program and vastly improved students’ proficiency scores. During Andrew’s time with this school district he was twice awarded Ohio’s charter school Teacher of the Year, he facilitated several mentoring relationships between students and various Cincinnati professionals, and the academy earned Ohio’s top rating for academic performance. 

In 2006, Andrew began the competitive Building Excellent Schools Fellowship where he received extensive training on charter school founding and leadership, and best practices in urban education.  He completed the BES Fellowship and opened Columbus Collegiate Academy (CCA-Main), in 2008. The school, which serves about 240 students in grades 6-8, received an “Excellent” rating from the Ohio Department of Education in 2012.  Recently, CCA-Main also won the Gold Star EPIC award from New Leaders for New Schools for its extraordinary student achievement gains; it was one of only four schools nationwide to win the honor. The school has consistently been one of the top performing public middle schools in Franklin County since opening.  

CCA's academic results and Columbus’ need for more high-quality educational options for urban students prompted Boy to open a second middle school, CCA-West Campus, in 2012, and also to form a charter management organization, United Schools Network (USN). USN now operates four schools across Columbus, serving 1,000+ students. 

In addition to two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Cincinnati, Boy holds a master’s in educational administration from Xavier University. 

John A. Dues
Chief Learning Officer, SPI Managing Director, & Interim Chief Operating Officer

John A. Dues is the founding director of the School Performance Institute, a new social enterprise division of the United Schools Network (USN). He also serves as the Chief Learning Officer of USN, a network of high-performing public charter schools in Columbus, Ohio. Previously, he has served as a School Director and Dean of Academics at USN. Under John’s leadership, USN schools have regularly been among the state and nation’s highest performing urban schools. In 2013, John was recognized as the Ohio School Leader of the Year by the Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Prior to joining USN, John taught in and led schools in Atlanta, Georgia; Denver, Colorado; and Cleveland, Ohio.

John graduated with Honors from Miami (OH) University, holds a Master of Education degree from the University of Cincinnati, and is an alumnus of Teach For America. John and his wife Jen are the proud parents of Jack, Allie, and Will.

Trisha Meier
Operations Director

In her role as Operations Director, Trisha leads the school-based operations staff at the network’s four campuses, as well as the home office operations team. In doing so Trisha ensures that USN’s administrators and staff are focused on educating scholars to be college ready, rather than having to focus on the everyday nuts and bolts of operations. Her journey with community schools began in Detroit, Michigan where she was on the ground floor in the development of an education nonprofit serving 100% economically disadvantaged students. While at the nonprofit, Trisha managed human resources as well as many aspects of operations and board relations for five school districts.

Trisha is a graduate of The Ohio State University where she earned her bachelor’s in psychology, and also attended The Chicago School of Professional Psychology where she obtained a master’s in industrial/organizational psychology. Trisha is excited to be living back in Ohio near her Alma Mater and she and her husband Jon are proud parents to Wade, Wesley, and Whitaker.

Susan Merson
Director of Enrollment

In her role as the Director of Enrollment, Susan leads the recruitment and enrollment strategies for all four USN campuses. Susan is passionate about providing superb educational opportunities for all students. Prior to joining USN, she worked as Director of US Operations for an educational nonprofit. She also worked for International Educational Consulting Firms, developing educational programs for K-12 students, as well as spent time working as an Admissions Director. Her enthusiasm for education led her to co-found an elementary online math program.

Susan earned her BA in psychology from Boston University, M.Ed in elementary education and school guidance counseling from Cambridge College, and MBA from Boston University, Questrom School of Business. Susan is thrilled to be in the Columbus area and part of the USN team!

Ben Pacht
Executive Director of Teaching & Learning

Ben Pacht is the Executive Director of Teaching and Learning at the United Schools Network. Previously, he served as a founding School Director, Dean of Students, and teacher at USN. Under Ben's leadership, United Preparatory Academy-State St.'s academic results consistently placed it in the top 5% of urban schools in Ohio, as well as among the top urban schools in the nation. Prior to joining USN, Ben taught middle school in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ben is a graduate of Carleton College (MN), holds a Master of Special Education degree from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, and is an alumnus of Teach For America. Ben and his wife Kerry-Ann are the proud parents of Maya and Layla.

Jennifer Olivieri
Development Director

In her role as Development Director, Jennifer works to ensure all students at USN’s four campuses have the resources they need to succeed on the path to the schools and careers of their dreams. Jennifer loves meeting with community members to learn about their passions and match them with the needs of our students. Prior to joining the USN home office team, she served in school-based operations at USN's west-side middle school campus, CCA-Dana Ave.

Jennifer graduated from the University of Cincinnati where she earned her bachelor’s in psychology and public relations, and she received her master's from The Ohio State University.

Diana Wakim, CFRE
Chief Advancement Officer

As USN's Chief Advancement Officer, Diana Wakim furthers the USN mission through philanthropy, communications, marketing, partnerships, and alumni services. Prior to joining the USN home office team, Diana served as an educator in North Carolina and at USN's west-side middle school campus, CCA-Dana Ave. Diana, a graduate of Ohio University, has earned her international professional certification as a Certified Fund Raising Executive.

Caroline Durbin
Associate Director of Alumni Services
cdurbin@unitedschoolsnetwork.org

Jillian Finkel
Stewardship Associate
jfinkel@unitedschoolsnetwork.org

Dr. Barbara Galantowicz
Network Medical Coordinator
bgalantowicz@unitedschoolsnetwork.org

Ciana Lawhead
Alumni Services Associate
clawhead@unitedschoolsnetwork.org

Carlia Lopez
Alumni Services Intern
asintern@unitedschoolsnetwork.org

Mikhala Manocchio
Operations Manager
mmanocchio@unitedschoolsnetwork.org

Sarah Sanchez
Development Associate
ssanchez@unitedschoolsnetwork.org

Nicole Tschopp
Director of Student Support Services
ntschopp@unitedschoolsnetwork.org